My Home?

"We will have breakfast first." he walked closer and pulled the girl from the arms of her mother. When the young girl started to pout with her eyes turning misty, he pointed at the table clearly, "your mother is still sick and needs rest. Do you want to tire her so that she feels worse?" The voice was so serious that it gave a freight to the young girl who shook her head at once, making him smirk.

"Good, then come with me. I will feed you apple pie." After threatening her, he did not forget to entice her as they walked out of the room with a smile on their faces leaving Cassey in a daze!

"So.. he arranged my medicines so that he could convince Penny to go with him?" she whispered softly before shaking her head and taking the meds. What was she even thinking when he had already told her so many times that he hated her.

When she walked down in the lobby, everyone was already sitting and having their meal.

One of the tables was taken by the knights, one by the coachmen and other staff while Tyrone and Penny were sitting on the last one near the window.

Feeling the presence of her mother, the animated eyes of Penny tore away from her father and waved at her mother.

"Mommy! The apple pie is yummy. Come here and have some.'' Her face was covered with cream and crumbs of the bread when she grinned at her mother, making Cassey smile.

She shook her head as she picked up the handkerchief and wiped her face, "I can see you have enjoyed eating pie a lot. But don't you think you should have some eggs too! Or some spinach or broccoli?" she gave Penny a mother look when the little girl pouted but did not dare to say no.

She picked the plate that Tyrone had tried to feed her but gave up in the end. He was amazed at how just a word from Cassey was enough! In his mind, Cassey had always been a timid and kind girl who shivered with only a minor confrontation or speaking loudly or sternly. But how much she had changed! Or he had never known the real her!!

The thought made him gloomy and he did not hold a conversation for the rest of the breakfast. Cassey did not speak either. She ate her meal in silence, occasionally giving a glance to her daughter to make sure that she was well fed.

When they were done, Tyrone stood up and took the lead and they followed.

"We are only going to stop for a few minutes now. We need to reach the palace by tonight or it would take another." he held Penny in his arms, "you are going to love your new home."

"My home?" she asked in a daze when he nodded again, "yes! There is a rose garden and a small lake and swings and I will bring a lot of toys for you and you can have a princess bed and…" the girl listened to him with wide eyes imagining all those things in her mind and smiling.

The smile on their faces was so sweet, full of love and warmth that Cassey felt lighter too. If only the wall was not stopping them, she would have wrapped her arm around his and leaned on his shoulders when he talked like that.

"And I will soon arrange a tutor for you. Does she know how to read?" Cassey blinked as she looked at her daughter who was only two years old.

"She is too young!" his brows knitted as he looked at her little hands that looked so soft and warm. Indeed holding nib would be too much for them.

"Then.. What did she do in her free time?" There was so much that he did not know what her little princess was that it made him feel strange.

"She plucks flowers, takes a walk, eats and then takes a nap. She plays with the ribbons and lace I use to sew and plays with her toys too.

I teach her new words so that she can speak freely and let her explore the town. She roams in the kitchen, helping me with dishes. She is just a kid, Ty!" She laughed helplessly when he listened to her with such serious expressions as if they were deciding the war tactics.

"She is already two! I have missed two years of her life, Cassandra. If only.." he paused but she still felt the vulnerability in his voice that made her heart heavy.

"She needs some better hobbies. How about music class? She did not need to play but she can enjoy the performance and see in the future if she has a talent for it. And how about making a toy room for her. Of course, she can…" his gaze was full of love and Penny was paying close attention to his every word as if she was able to understand it.

"I will ask Diana to arrange everything. I…" he stopped when her eyes hardened and the look on her face changed.

"Is Diana still living with you in the palace?" The question sounded absurd to Tyrone who only nodded his head when she turned silent and looked away.

"Actually, you do not need to plan so many things when you are not even taking us to live with you again. Did you not say that I am just a criminal for you?"